The reason they are called soap operas is like can be found on wikipedia: "The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers. "

The reason they are called soap operas is like can be found on wikipedia: "The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers. "